On hols now!

[pmessy]

Writing this on the balcony of our hotel here in orlando! Just a quick post to say we are having the most amazing holiday its our first visit trip here with our deaf blind daughter. DD is breathless with excitment every morning wondering what the day is going to bring! She is loving all the high fast rides and the ones where you get wet! She is being treated like royalty by all the Disney staff and our GAC is a God send and is making the visit so much easy as she really would not underdstand having to stand in line for too long. Because she is so excited at the end of some of the rides the CMs have allowed us to stay on and ride againMy one issue with this trip is the way people stare at DD...God but some people can be so dam rude! My DH is losing plot and is threating to get DD a t shirt printed iwth " WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU STARING AT?"!!!! All in all a fab trip and I think we will have to drag DD on to the plane home to Ireland! Will post a longer thread when we get home....must go Disney calling...............

 

[bookwormde]

Glad you are having a great time, The CMs are such a big part of the Disney magic.

Try not to worry about what others think, The important thing is that your child is able to enjoy WDW in as equivalent a manner as possible to those children without special needs.

bookwormde

 

[Minnie&Nana]

How lovely! Try to ignore those who stare, they do not understand... or perhaps they are in awe....I would want to give your family a hug, but would simply smile.

 

[AJKMOM]

In about 14 trips to WDW with DS who is autistic, I can honestly say the very last thing I worry about is what strangers think. You never know, maybe they are just thinking of how great that it is that your daughter is having a wonderful vacation?

Just keep going, making memories and don't even look at the crowds. Some people will always be rude, no matter what the situation. You could always try "Take a picture, it lasts longer."

 

[pmessy]

Thanks for the replys and you know what maybe people are stareing at DD in awe because she truly is an awesome child! Her reaction to everything on this trip just lifts my heart and so many people both staff and members of the public have been so kind to her.We have another week to go and Im looking forward to creating many more wonderful memories..........let this magical journey continue!

 

[ireland_nicole]

They're probably staring 'cuz she's gorgeous! I'm so glad you're having a great trip; keep us posted as you can, and take lots of pics so you can show us when you get home. Ignore the irude idiots, and enjoy the magic with your DD.

 

[pmessy]

Cheers Nicole and yes she is gorgeous! We have had a very wet afternoon today so we came back from Universal at 4pm as we had just done the Popeye ride and we were soaked to the skin! DD had so much fun just standing in the rain with her face turned to the sky! She so loves the elements....a windy wet day are her favourite! This trip is really showing us how far our special little girl has came as she spent her first 8 years in a Russian orpanage. She is now the light of our lives and it is DD that is making this trip so magical. Hoping to do down town Disney tonight if the rain ever stops!!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Not to be rude, but I'm just really curious what it is your daughter enjoys about the parks and rides. My father is mostly blind and still gets a lot of enjoyment from the sounds and whatnot, but I just can't imagine not having sight and sounds when so much of Disney is about that. I just can't imagine how she percieves things and I'd really love to know what she can sense.

 

[Teddys~Mom]

"They're probably staring 'cuz she's gorgeous!"

This is what we tell DS when people stare and he notices. I say, "boy you must have done a great job on your hair this morning" or "see, I told you that shirt makes you look handsome, people can't keep their eyes off you" LOL. Give DH a huge hug from our family . I notice the men in our group tend to get off plot quicker than the ladies when DS is being stared at. I equate it with the age old ingrained reflex to protect the clan. Enjoy the rest of your week!

 

[CLR4321]

Not to be rude, but I'm just really curious what it is your daughter enjoys about the parks and rides. My father is mostly blind and still gets a lot of enjoyment from the sounds and whatnot, but I just can't imagine not having sight and sounds when so much of Disney is about that. I just can't imagine how she percieves things and I'd really love to know what she can sense.

I would suggest you read the OP's post more carefully and you will see what her DD has enjoyed. People that are deaf and blind still have fully functioning senses of smell, taste, and touch. Perhaps next time you are at WDW, plug your ears and close your eyes and you will see all that her DD experiences. I don't know about you but I love the smell of the wonderful food cooking everywhere (especially Main St!) and the feeling of the air rushing past me on Space Mountain, and the feeling of water splashing on me on Splash Mountain. For a person who is deaf and blind, their other 3 senses become heightened to a level that most people who have all 5 senses take for granted. They "see" with their hands and can "hear" with vibration, for example. You may learn more about people who are deaf and blind by reading books or articles online. One person you may want to read about is Helen Keller, as she had a very well documented life.

 

[iuki]

Writing this on the balcony of our hotel here in orlando! Just a quick post to say we are having the most amazing holiday its our first visit trip here with our deaf blind daughter. DD is breathless with excitment every morning wondering what the day is going to bring! She is loving all the high fast rides and the ones where you get wet! She is being treated like royalty by all the Disney staff and our GAC is a God send and is making the visit so much easy as she really would not underdstand having to stand in line for too long. Because she is so excited at the end of some of the rides the CMs have allowed us to stay on and ride againMy one issue with this trip is the way people stare at DD...God but some people can be so dam rude! My DH is losing plot and is threating to get DD a t shirt printed iwth " WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU STARING AT?"!!!! All in all a fab trip and I think we will have to drag DD on to the plane home to Ireland! Will post a longer thread when we get home....must go Disney calling...............

Get her a T-shirt that says "I CAN FEEL YOU WATCHING ME - SO DON'T BE RUDE!

Many times older children who should know better stare at my husband (he has only one arm) - I stare at the children and smile when they see me staring at them. They become embarrassed and stop staring. It allows them to experience how uncomfortable it feels to be stared at, without my having to say a word or scowl at them. Hopefully it becomes a learning experience.

I am so happy that your daughter is having a magical time. Enjoy your vacation and God Bless.

iuki

 

[pmessy]

Thanks for all the kind words you really are all a great bunch of people.....wish I could hug you all!! Took a day off from the parks today and we drove to Cocoa Beach....fab beach or what??? DD a bit nervous about the sand under her feet but we spend loads of time reasuring her and eventually she was fine....meet some really nice local people there. The stareing issue is now so yesterday`s news we are all having to much fun to worry about other people Re how DD enjoys Disney...wind in her hair...splash of water or a soaking!....downward movement of the rides....smells everywhere...and lots to touch with her hands and the best of all anticapation of what lies ahead!! Plus a swim in the hotel pool at the end of a busy day...can life get any better!! Heading to the blizzard water park tomorrow and so this wonderful journet continues....

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you are not aware of it, each of the four theme parks has a large Braille map of the park near Guest Relations and close to the turnstiles. On you way in you can ask about it. It does show where the buildings and attractions are.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Good for her, I kind of figured it would be those types of things she enjoyed but figured I'd ask anyway. Like I said, I just can't imagine what it'd be like to experience things from her perspective. I could shut my eyes and plug my ears and all, but it wouldn't be the same because I have memories of the sights and sounds and I'm sure my brain would just fill in the blanks so to speak.

 

[iuki]

Thanks for all the kind words you really are all a great bunch of people.....wish I could hug you all!! Took a day off from the parks today and we drove to Cocoa Beach....fab beach or what??? DD a bit nervous about the sand under her feet but we spend loads of time reasuring her and eventually she was fine....meet some really nice local people there. The stareing issue is now so yesterday`s news we are all having to much fun to worry about other people Re how DD enjoys Disney...wind in her hair...splash of water or a soaking!....downward movement of the rides....smells everywhere...and lots to touch with her hands and the best of all anticapation of what lies ahead!! Plus a swim in the hotel pool at the end of a busy day...can life get any better!! Heading to the blizzard water park tomorrow and so this wonderful journet continues....

Guess what - I close my eyes on some rides - and I still love 'em and continue to ride 'em. I love getting wet on rides. I can just imagine the smiles and giggles when she gets to experience her other senses.

I have so much fun watching the faces and hearing the laughter of children when they experience the magic of Disney.

Glad to hear you're having a wonderful time!

We're leaving in 2 weeks and I can't wait!

iuki

 

[pmessy]

great day at Blizzard beach DD had a ball she loved the raft ride where we were all able to go down together and the chair lift to the summit made it so much easier. We took her to the small kids area and she loved the slides into the pool me at the top and DH at the bottom to catch her! She kept making the sign for again again! The wave pool was so much fun for all of us it just took DD a while to understand what was going on but once she realised it was waves coming at her she really got into it and we nearly had to drag her out to go for lunch! Went to dinner at Bahama Breeze on International Drive and as DD has limited hearing she really was able to enjoy the atmosphere as the music was quite loud we even got up to dance! Typhoon Logoon tomorrow cant wait...God but this holiday is the best ever

 

[retired and happy]

pmessy,

Your descriptions of your days is so exciting. And the tag line to each entry just brings it all to reality. You are having such an enjoyable trip and making all of us a part of it. Thank you so much for sharing with us. I wish we could meet your family, but we won't be there until Christmas...unless you want to stay that long...

We travel with three or four wheelchair bound children (we foster and adopt), so we know about getting stared at. We usually speak or smile at them and sometimes share our childrens' story. Maybe a little education will go a long way.

You should have seen us a few years ago trying to maneuver a four seat stroller into the Grand Ole Opry.

 

[hopefor4]

Your note is so exciting! I could feel the thrill! I am glad to hear your daughter is having such a wonderful time, that's what it's all about. You will remember all of these moments forever!

As for the people staring, I would just look at the glow on your daughters face, and forget about people you won't ever see again!

I can't wait to read your final trip report! It is adding to the excitement of our upcoming trip.

Take care, safe journeys!

Michelle

 

[Narnia]

Sounds like your having a magical timeThe kids staring doesn't bug me it's the parents. When my husband was able to walk even adults stared at him , he was so bent it didn't look possible for him to stand yet the parents let the kids actually push him down w/o even a "that's not nice say sorry". My Daughter has Muscular dystrophy and needs a stroller chair for walks, we get quite a few looks but worse are the dumb comments, the worst was" whats wrong with your kid, down syndrome or something" sorry but unless your going to comment/ask nicely about her medical issues,although it's not really anyone's buisness, I will give an evil eye and leave or I'll give a mini lecture on MD and how genetics works All kids can enjoy Disney, like kids experiences are all diff. My DD was asleep 1/2 the time,and pushed around a great deal and she had a blast can't wait until she's 7 when a mom and DD trip is planned.

 

[pmessy]

Once again thanks for the kind posts and so wish we could stay till Christmas!Today has been a bit of an off day as DD woke with a slight head cold which is always a nightmare for as as anything that effects her sense of smell really throws her. Went to the chemist to get her some meds (Wallgreens what an awesome chemist we dont have chemists like that in Ireland..I could have stayed there all day!) We decided to head to Typhoon Lagoon as planned but DD really was just not into it....her highlight was the showers around the park where you wash off!! I got some fab photos of her under the shower and it was really sweet to see other peoples reaction to her as she was dancing and vocalising with excitment! Headed back to hotel after lunch and all 3 of us went for a nap....my God but I never realised how tireing this kind of holiday can be we normally head to Spain and just chill out by the pool for a couple of weeks we will need a holiday when we go home to recover from this one! Tomorrow is a rest day for me and DD as DH is heading to Cocoa Beach to go fishing off shore...the highlight of the hols for him as to be honest he not a Disney fan and is nearly Disneyed out by now where as me and DD could move here permanently! And so this incredible journey continues....onwards and upwards!!!